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Randomized Controlled Trial
. 2014 Jan 16:2014:175358.
doi: 10.1155/2014/175358. eCollection 2014.

The additional information of bitewing radiographs in the detection of established or severe dentinal decay in 14-year olds: a cross-sectional study in low-caries population

Aija-Maaria Hietala-Lenkkeri  1 , Mimmi Tolvanen  2 , Pentti Alanen  2 , Kaisu Pienihäkkinen  2
Affiliations
Randomized Controlled Trial

The additional information of bitewing radiographs in the detection of established or severe dentinal decay in 14-year olds: a cross-sectional study in low-caries population

Aija-Maaria Hietala-Lenkkeri et al. ScientificWorldJournal. .

Abstract

Aim: To reveal the additional value of radiographic bitewings (BW) in detection of caries and in comparing the occurrence of clinically undetected severe decay between 14-year olds with and without clinically observed dentinal caries in a low-caries prevalence population.

Design: The cross-sectional study used 363 pairs of radiographs read by one examiner without knowledge of the clinical findings. The yield was analyzed on a tooth surface level by cross tabulating the clinical and radiographic information and on an individual level by counting the number of yield surfaces for all subjects. Mann-Whitney U test was used.

Results: On a tooth surface level, the contribution of BW was the greatest on the occlusal surfaces of the first molars, where established or severe dentinal decay was registered in BW in 11% of clinically sound surfaces and in 40% of established cavitated enamel lesions. On an individual level, 53% of subjects benefited from BW. The subjects clinically DMFS > 0 benefited more than the clinically DMFS = 0 subjects (P = .004), nearly 60% in relation to 47%, respectively.

Conclusions: In a low-caries prevalence population a remarkable portion of both clinically DMFS = 0 and DMFS > 0 14-year olds benefit from BW examination. Most of the benefit is obtained on the occlusal surfaces of the first and the second permanent molars.

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